Rising from humble roots in the highlands of west central Mexico, mariachi music has evolved over five centuries to become the emblematic sound that articulates the very soul of the nation. Historians say the country's signature musical ensemble derived from the Colonial era Spanish theatrical orchestra, evolving most prominently in the area of Cocula, Jalisco, which self-proclaims itself as the "Cradle of Mariachi." The genre first emerged from sonorous expressions of spirituality, a fusion of primitive instrumental accompaniment to rituals practiced by the region's indigenous people and European sacred music introduced in the 16th century by Franciscan missionaries.